Chapter 178: Appearance Fee (3)
Translator: Dreamscribe
CEO Seo Gu-seob had veins popping in his eyes, so vivid they seemed about to burst with a little more congestion. His face was also crumpled up as if it was being wrung out, resulting in wrinkles that made him look like a bulldog.
And the color?
It was as if all the blood in his body had congregated to his face, turning it beet red. Sitting on the sofa, shaking his hands and legs, Seo Gu-seob’s rationality had snapped long ago. Now, he was filled with nothing but instinct and fury.
“Fuck!! What the hell is this!”
His normally logical thought process was in a whirlwind. Why had such a damn situation unfolded? Who? When? Why? He clenched his teeth hard as he looked at the article displayed on the tablet. But the article did not disappear.
『[Exclusive] “Called out to karaoke at dawn”… The confession of an actress towards GGO Entertainment’s Seo Gu-seob “I wasn’t the only one” – Part 1 of 5』/PowerPatch
PowerPatch, known for their exclusives, always ranked within the top three major media outlets if something significant was happening in the entertainment industry. Clearly, they had a connection with CEO Seo Gu-seob.
‘Have these bastards lost it? No matter how lowly the media acts, what kind of nonsense is this without any prior notice or warning?’
In the entertainment industry, the relationship between media outlets and entertainment companies was all for show. A mask for mutual benefit. They laugh together in front, but are always ready to stab each other in the back. Even so, this was completely unexpected.
At that moment.
“Huff-”
CEO Seo Gu-seob, having finally suppressed his rage, said to the executives with a hot breath, his tone was ice-cold.
“Are you going to just stand there like idiots?”
The two executives standing by Seo Gu-seob, who had been dumbly staring at the tablet screen, jumped in shock. To them, the bulldog-like Seo Gu-seob gave a low order.
“Call those fucking PowerPatch bastards.”
It was then that the two executives hurriedly took out their cell phones.
“Sorry, sorry! We’ll do it right now!”
“Yes, yes, me too!”
The two executives, hastily making calls somewhere. Interestingly, while the two executives, with their phones to their ears, while Seo Seo-sub looked on.
– Swoosh.
They quietly slipped out of the CEO’s office. It seemed like they were stepping out for a more comfortable call, but the truth was different. It was an escape. Staying still in front of an erupting volcano would be truly idiotic, wouldn’t it? Loyalty to a master was only possible when the master had power.
Soon, the two directors who had left the CEO’s office whispered to each other after seeing each other’s faces.
“Seems like… we’ll being thrown under the bus, doesn’t it?”
“What else could it be? That’s why he should have kept it moderate.”
“What to do now?”
“What can we do? We need to find our own way to survive.”
The two executives reached an understanding. Betrayal. Turning their backs happened in an instant. Instead of making the calls they were supposed to, they hurriedly left the premises.
Meanwhile, back in the CEO’s office, Seo Gu-seob.
“……”
With bloodshot eyes, was checking the content of the article released by PowerPatch. Part 1 of a 5-part series. In other words, there were four more strikes to come. The content of the article was filled with provocative information corresponding to the title.
-[PowerPatch= Goo Tae-yoon, Kim Jin-ki, Hwang So-yeon reporters]
-Before the interview, actress A, who gathered her courage, let out a long sigh. However, she eventually began to recall the past and opened her mouth.
“It was quite some time ago. Late at night, after finishing shooting, I received a call from CEO Seo Gu-seob.”
Actress A’s voice trembled as she showed the text message sent by Seo Gu-seob.
‘Finished shooting? Come to Cheongdam-dong karaoke now’
Despite clearly refusing, CEO Seo Gu-seob began to threaten.
‘Do you want to be buried in this industry? This was all arranged for your benefit. Come now. If you don’t, I’ll start canceling your schedule from tomorrow.’
At that time, and even now, the power CEO Seo Gu-seob held in the entertainment industry was immense, and actress A could not overcome his threats. The place she arrived at was crowded with Seo Gu-seob, his acquaintances, entertainment industry PDs, and other related personnel.
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The first of the five-part series of investigative articles that burst onto the scene was about entertainment. It discussed summoning actresses to act as hostesses, creating actual sponsor-like positions, or using celebrities as bait. The content of the article was both meticulous and detailed. It clearly felt based on solid evidence.
Even more so, there wasn’t just one or two victims.
However, it was impossible for CEO Seo Gu-seob to identify the victims in the article. In fact, he had just slammed his tablet to the floor in frustration.
“Fuck! Fuck!!! Damn them!!!”
He couldn’t pinpoint anyone specifically. The reason was simple. The incidents mentioned in the article were just the tip of the iceberg. There were far too many similar cases. If you included even the minor instances, they were countless. And it didn’t matter if the actors were male or female. The anonymity of the victims in the article was perfect.
Soon, CEO Seo Gu-seob, who had been pacing angrily,
– Swoosh.
shakily held a cigarette between his trembling hands and put it to his lips, trying hard to calm himself down. He struggled to light it and then shifted his gaze outside the door.
“Are these bastards making phones to call?! Hey!!” (TL: making phones as in building or creating a phone)
But calling the already fled executives returned nothing but silence.
“……”
That silence gnawed away at the always firm-minded CEO Seo Gu-seob. The noose of despair around his neck tightened. He felt suffocated.
Yet, bulldog Seo swallowed his curses with a sigh.
Right then.
– Brrrr.
His cell phone on the sofa’s table spat out a short vibration. The problem was that the short vibration didn’t end with just one.
– Brrrr.
– Brrrr.
– Brrrr.
The phone poured out countless notifications as if it was broken. Whoever was on the other end had undoubtedly seen the article.
Eventually.
– Brrrr Brrrr.
The call rang. That’s when CEO Seo Gu-seob began to feel the reality of his situation.
“Fuck, I’m screwed.”
Later.
On the morning of the 22nd, the snipe from PowerPatch that struck the entertainment industry was enough to attract the attention of hyenas.
『[Breaking News] GGO Ent.’s CEO Seo Gu-seob under suspicion of treating signed actresses as hostesses』
『[Issue Pick] With numerous victims and even recordings… The unveiled true face of CEO Seo Gu-seob』
By lunchtime and into the afternoon, the single article had burgeoned into hundreds, easily overflowing.
『’Come to karaoke’ CEO Seo Gu-seob’s life was entertainment』
If it were just a minor figure, a few more articles might have exploded and that would be it, but GGO Ent.’s CEO Seo Gu-seob was not of ordinary stature. He was a big fish among entertainment agency heads, given GGO Ent.’s fame and its many top-tier celebrities.
Thus, various media outlets rushed in, eyes ablaze.
“Hey, hey! Reporter Kim!! Did you call GGO Ent.??!”
“Yes! But it’s not connecting!”
“Ah, shit, then just change up the wording or the title and keep it rolling!”
“Ah, got it! But won’t Seo Gu-seob freak out later??!”
“Who cares!! Look at the speed these articles are dropping! Even that guy can’t stop this! Just dump and go for as much as you can!!”
However, PowerPatch, the one that fired the starting shot, was currently quiet, as if conserving energy for the next blow. Regardless, articles continued to be produced en masse.
『GGO Ent.’s CEO Seo Gu-seob scandal… But still 4 more shots to go?』
Eventually, by late afternoon, the name of CEO Seo Gu-seob filled the entertainment news entirely. With the situation having escalated to this extent, it wasn’t just the media that was moving.
As CEO Seo Gu-seob’s name appeared on the evening news.
“Breaking news, allegations of using actresses as hostesses on Mr. Seo Gu-seob, CEO of the major entertainment agency GGO Ent., are emerging. Reporter Gong Chang-hyun has the story.”
Numerous videos were uploaded on video platforms like Youtube.
– [Exclusive] GGO Ent.’s CEO Seo Gu-seob’s abusive voicemail… “For fuck’s sake, you’re not listening well” IssueManTV
– In-depth analysis of voicemails featuring Seo Gu-seob’s voice!!! RackaManReporter
Public opinion was utterly frigid.
– What a fucking disgusting bastard
– Ruining the lives of people young enough to be his daughters and living so shamelessly, lock him up
– Wow…….Seo Gu-seob…..but this guy had rumors before
– Feel so sorry for the celebrities who trusted and signed with this asshole
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ another expose??? Reality is nastier than dramas ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
– Seo Gu-seob is just a thug ㅋㅋㅋㅋ, pretty much everyone knows, right???
– Just for the hosting and sponsorship, he should be in handcuffs ㅋㅋㅋ, PowerPatch still has 4 more shots ㅋㅋㅋㅋ, bye
– Perverted trash!!! Yuck, ptui!!
– Boycotting GGO Ent.
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But this was just the beginning. The next day, on the 23rd, PowerPatch’s second bullet was fired.
『[Exclusive] “Zero Payments for 3 Years After Debut”… The luxury enjoyed by GGO Ent.’s CEO Seo Gu-seob was all built by scamming rookie actors – Part 2 of a 5-part series』 /PowerPatch
The situation was spiraling out of control, but there was no reaction from GGO Ent. or CEO Seo Gu-seob. Then, around noon on the 24th, PowerPatch’s third bomb was dropped.
『[Exclusive] A manager who left GGO revealed “Three instances of assault during one year at GGO”… CEO Seo Gu-seob wielded not just power but his fists too – Part 3 of a 5-part series』 /PowerPatch
Eventually, the prosecution and police began to move. It was late morning on the 26th, two days later. The person who had started rolling this snowball, to begin with, was on the phone with PowerPatch.
“Hmm, I saw. The timing isn’t bad.”
It was Choi Sung-gun, located in Buyeo. Even though the world was in turmoil over CEO Seo Gu-seob, the filming of ‘Island of the Missing’ continued. Choi Sung-gun, with his phone to his ear, spoke a bit away from the filming zone.
“Let’s proceed with the remaining as we discussed.”
On the other end of the phone, a familiar male voice was heard. It was an editor Choi Sung-gun had met in the past.
“Don’t worry about that – could you send over the remaining materials now?”
“Hey, why would you say that? I’ll give it to you as we see our agreement being kept. Again, anonymity and timing are crucial.”
“Okay, okay. Just don’t give it to anyone else, then.”
Choi Sung-gun responded with a light smile.
“Let’s not say things that are obvious between professionals.”
November 27th, Friday.
While Seo Gu-seob was riding the train to hell, Kang Woojin’s daily life hadn’t changed much despite the entertainment industry shaking at its core. He was filming ‘Island of the Missing’ and tackling a bursting schedule. Naturally, Woojin had heard about Seo Gu-seob but didn’t give it much thought.
He didn’t see the need to.
Hatred was something to discuss only if there was some level of relationship. To Kang Woojin, Seo Gu-seob was just another crazy man.
What did he care if he was a big-shot entertainment agency CEO?
Even Director Ahn Ga-bok was seen as just a neighborly grandpa to him, let alone knowing that Choi Sung-gun, who had orchestrated all these events, was looking out for him.
Regardless.
– Swoosh.
Kang Woojin had just finished his shower and stepped out of the bathroom. He was in a resort hotel room in Buyeo. Soon, after drying his wet hair, Kang Woojin put on comfortable clothes and checked the time.
“Hmm- 8 o’clock.”
The time was 8:10 PM. Today had been another day of filming ‘Island of the Missing’ for Woojin. It was about time to take a break. Having dried his hair, Kang Woojin picked up the script for ‘Beneficial Evil’ that he had recently received from PD Song Man-woo.
– Plop!
He dived onto the bed.
“Ah- Heaven.”
After rolling around in bed for a while, he picked up his phone instead of the script, prompted by a thought that had occurred to him. What Woojin accessed was his own Youtube channel.
[Channel Name: Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego]
[Subscribers: 6.61 million]
[Videos: 23]
The ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel was racing towards 7 million subscribers. And just a few hours ago, a brand-new video was uploaded to the ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel. However, it wasn’t the usual song cover video content.
-【Introducing the second content of Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego channel!!】(‘Avatar Cooking’ teaser) Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego
-Views: 3030000 million / 2020. 11. 27
It was a teaser video about the second content, ‘Cooking’. Due to its different theme from usual, it had crossed 3 million views in just a few hours. The teaser video was simple. It combined Woojin’s interview about what kinds of cooking he would show in the future with the ‘Avatar Cooking’ segment previously filmed with Han Ye-jung.
Then, as Kang Woojin checked the teaser video, he scrolled down to the comments section. It was packed.
– No way!!!! Cooking??!! Cooking???!!
– Wowwwww this is insane? Oppa, oppa, oppa, I’m really good at eating
– ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ what? Does Kang Woojin also cook well???
– OMG ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋThis is totally unexpected? If oppa can also cook, I’m really thankful!
– Lee Sang-man’s form is insane
– Isn’t Kang Woojin from our dining table part of the kitchen team??
– Wow!! The teaser bits of oppa cooking are seriously….so cool…..especially here at 1:24
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Of course, the comments were good mix of Japanese and English. Woojin smiled, seemingly pleased.
“Good response.”
With the addition of official celebrity guests other than Hwalin in the future, it would undoubtedly be more explosive. Naturally, the ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ channel would naturally grow even bigger.
That’s when.
-Knock knock knock.
A knock on the door. Though it was unexpected, Woojin nonchalantly got up and walked towards the door. Meanwhile, he hid his smile and put on his concept. It seemed like he knew who had come, and outside the opened door stood Choi Sung-gun with bags in both hands and the sturdy Jang Su-hwan.
“You’re a little early?”
“Hyung-nim! We bought some stuff, but if you’re hungry, we can buy more!”
Kang Woojin shook his head and let them into the room.
“Come in.”
Soon, Choi Sung-gun and Jang Su-hwan placed the bags they were holding on the table, unveiling beer, soft drinks, and snacks. Among them, Choi Sung-gun handed a can of non-alcoholic beer to Woojin.
“This one’s yours. It’s non-alcoholic.”
“Thank you.”
“Didn’t you turn on the TV?”
“No. I was checking my Youtube channel.”
Choi Sung-gun smiled broadly.
“The teaser that went up, the reaction’s killer, right?”
Jang Su-hwan chimed in.
“The response was insane!! I saw that an insane amount of comments were posted too??”
Choi Sung-gun, in his loose-fitting tee, turned on the TV and continued.
“It seems like the rush came because we opened up that Woojin here is the main in the kitchen team on ‘Our Dining Table’. Around December 5th, when we leave for the ‘Our Dining Table’ shoot in the US – if we upload the official video then, interest on both sides will explode. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
Departure on December 5th. Today being the 27th, that left exactly one week until Kang Woojin’s departure for the ‘Our Dining Table’ US edition shoot. Has it already come to this? For a moment, Woojin felt a flutter of excitement.
‘Wow- geez, going to the US really makes me nervous.’
Among the three, who had been chatting about ‘Kang Woojin’s Alter Ego’ or ‘Our Dining Table’ for the past few tens of minutes, Jang Su-hwan checked the time and turned on the TV.
“It’s time!”
“Ah, right.”
The channel Jang Su-hwan turned on was KBC, and currently, commercials were airing just before the start of a new drama. Then, Choi Sung-gun crossed his legs and lifted his beer can.
“‘Drug Dealer’ was a massive hit, so viewers are going to be shocked out of their minds by ‘Mysterious Man Next Door’.”
Jang Su-hwan gave a thumbs up.
“Of course! ‘Drug Dealer’ surpassed 7.5 million viewers, and everyone praised ‘Lee Sang-man’ and adored Woojin hyung! And now a 180-degree different character appears, even with sign language!”
Woojin felt slightly awkward.
‘Why are you going that far again? Ahem, it’s embarrassing.’
He kept his mouth shut and focused on the TV.
That’s when.
“Oh, it’s starting.”
The TV had moved on from commercials to the opening of the new drama. A lively OST with added violin played alongside cheerful animation depicting the main actors. Below, the names of the main actors appeared.
-♬♪
As the OST concluded, the drama title was emblazoned in the center of a light purple screen.
-[‘Freezing Love’]
-[Episode 1]
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